The King Of The South Page 2

  Kareem would chuckle it up, but he didn’t need to tell any stories of bedroom bullying. His girlfriend, Tiana, had gotten pregnant by him in the eighth grade, and her pregnancy told the story to the boys of who Kareem had been headboard slamming. That was over eleven years and three kids ago for Kareem.

  Kareem’s incarceration had taken a toll on Tiana and the kids, but King and the crew had tried to make sure they were taken care of financially. He would personally check on her and the kids while Kareem was away. But during the last year of Kareem’s bid, Tiana stopped accepting the help. She had made it clear to King that when Kareem came home, she wanted him out the game.

  King could understand Tiana’s fear, but leaving the game would have to be Kareem’s decision. King knew that like him, Kareem had been raised in the dope game, and did not intend to leave it. However, if his boy had changed, and was ready to leave, King would wish him the best. Secretly, he hoped he would still be his co-pilot in the streets, especially now with this bullshit with Red.

  King hoped that after pulling this bid, Kareem now understood how serious things were in the streets. He had always stayed on Kareem about being too lax about business. The day Kareem got busted, he was high, on the phone talking to Tiana with a pound of Kush and gun in the car. The police pulled him over and could smell it on him.

  Kareem was careless and liked to play and joke; he was always either being the clown or the killer. He was never even keeled. Everyone in the crew was convinced that he was bi-polar. The killer side was the reason King and Carlton kept him around; neither would admit that sometimes the clown side kept everyone in light spirits. Kareem’s funny side didn’t set too well with the judge. At his trial, he kept asking him if he thought something was funny, because of the way he kept smiling.

  The judge decided to make an example of him. He wanted to give Kareem more time, but King had paid a top lawyer to represent his boy, so instead of ten years, he got five. King hoped that Kareem would now take life seriously, and get his game up.

  King turned off the water and stepped out the shower feeling energized about seeing his boy. As he wrapped the towel around his waist, his cell phone whistled in the bedroom. He checked the text, and laughed.

  Nigga you better get out from between dem hookers’ legs and come get ya boy! The text read.

  King just texted Kareem back, N.I.G.G.A.

  He knew that he understood. They both were Tupac fans, and used the phrase all the time. Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished. “Yeah, take that fucking word crackers used and turn it into something positive, Pac.” King said and went into his bedroom to get dressed.

  __________

  King pulled up to Tiana’s house and considered going inside, but thought better of it. He did not want to hear Tiana’s mouth. Today was a day of celebration, and he wasn’t in the mood to hear her nagging. So instead, he honked the horn twice.

  “Nigga, lay off that horn. I ain’t no trick you picking up for some ass!” Kareem said as he walked down the driveway.

  King shook his head as Kareem jumped over the door into the car. “Nigga! Don’t scratch my shit!” King said. “I thought Niggas got big when they go in. Your ass ain’t gained an ounce!”

  “Boy, you know I’ve been Skinny with plenty all my damn life, nigga.” Kareem shot back.

  King reached out his hand. “Damn, homie, it is good to see your ass.” He said as he pounded Kareem up.

  “Nigga, fuck that, give your boy a hug.” Kareem screamed. The two men embraced and held each other tightly.

  While letting go, King saw Tiana standing in the door. He waved, then checked his side mirror and pulled out into the street.

  “Damn, how was the homecoming with your girl, brah? I already know she didn’t like your ass coming out with me, huh?” King said as he turned onto Ashley road.

  “Man, the same old, same old. I got her, though.” Kareem said laughing. “So what’s going on? I heard about Strap and them.”

  “Damn nigga, how you get that shit that quick?” King asked.

  “Man, niggas behind the wall know shit before it even happens. They been blowing up my phone all morning,” Kareem said, shaking his head. “So what we gonna do about this?”

  “Man, thanks, but I ain’t trying to get you caught up in this shit. You just got out and…”

  “Nigga is you serious? Did your ass get soft while I was locked up? I know you ain’t letting that shit Tiana spitting get to you,” Kareem said, adjusting his .45 in his waistband.

  He shook his head. Although he was talking shit, her voice echoed through his mind. Every conversation they had while he was locked up was about him getting his shit straight when he came home. He would listen to her cry on the phone and tell him how much she and the boys needed him. When he said he was going with King, she threatened him. She told him that she would take the boys and leave if he didn’t leave the streets alone. She refused to watch her boys grow up and have to worry about them following in his footsteps. He loved her and his sons, but King had been with him since multiplication tables. He couldn’t turn his back on his boy, and Tiana would have to just understand that shit.

  “Dude, you know we got to handle this situation. You let this ride too long, and other hungry niggas will take it as a sign of weakness. You gotta set the example so they know and respect our game, homie.” Kareem said, patting his .45. “Shit, you know Strap would expect no less, man. No fucking less.”

  King continued driving and listening to Kareem. Everything he said was true, but he knew Carlton was right also. Murder was bad for business, and no matter how much he and Kareem wanted revenge, it would have to wait until Carlton felt it was time.

  __________

  King pulled up to his parent’s house with Kareem and they walked up to the door. King turned the knob, and the aroma of Sunday dinner filled his nostils. The two men walked to the back patio and found Yogi and Carlton sipping on tea mixed with lemonade.

  “Kareem!” Yogi said, smiling.

  Kareem looked Yogi over. She wore a white denim mini skirt that showed off her toned thighs, and a red lace shirt with a white cami under it. Kareem knew that she was King’s mama, but damn, she was fine as hell. Beautiful face and that banging body made her a definite M.I.L.F. She gave him a hug and he could smell her signature perfume, Jo Malone.

  “Hey, Ms. Yogi,” Kareem said, slowly loosening his embrace.

  “Kareem, so glad to have you home, baby.” Yogi said, touching his face and kissing his cheek. Kareem was like a second son to her.

  “Hey boy! You look good, still skinny as hell,” Carlton said, pounding Kareem and giving him a brief hug. “Yeah, glad you made it out boy, glad. Come on boys, let’s go to my office. We got some things to talk about.” Carlton said, referring to the basement.

  The men walked down the stairs. Kobe, Carlton’s main security guy, was already sitting on the couch with a drink in his hand and talking on the phone. Carlton walked behind the bar and poured three glasses of cognac.

  He handed King and Kareem a glass then raised his in a toast. “To freedom, friendship, family, and vengeance!” Carlton said, clinking his glass against King’s glass, and then Kareem’s. The men sat down and sipped their drinks. Carlton took his seat in his recliner and waited for Kobe to get off the phone before he spoke.

  “I had a night to sleep on this, and I’m thinking a quick response could be good in this situation. I had Kobe call our people downtown and check this nigga, Red, out. It looks like your boy been working with them people, so that’s probably what gave him the balls to think he could take from us. Word is that he done set up a bunch of people, so they probably got good protection on him, but that don’t have nothing to do with the people around him. I say we send him and the streets a good message, and then we wait a little while before we take him up out of here. That way, when he come up dead, it won’t point right back to us.” Carlton said, looking from Kareem to King.

  “What you thinking, son?” Carl
ton asked has he sat down at the bar.

  “I think we need to make sure that every nigga in this state learn not to ever cross us like this again.” King said and placed his Smith and Wesson on the bar.

  __________

  After King and the family had finished Sunday dinner, him and Kareem excused themselves to continue the rest of the day King had planned for his newly released partner.

  “Man where we off to?” Kareem asked, not sure what King had going on in his mind.

  “Well first we about to swing by one of my little spots, so a couple of my side chicks can squeeze whatever cum you got left inside you after Tiana worked your ass over last night. Then we off to the mall so we can get you out that damn Wal-Mart sweat suit you got on, homie.” King answered while trying to control his laughter.

  “Fuck you nigga, you know this some shit wifey had for me, and it was either this or throw on some Roca wear I had from three years ago.”

  “Yeah, well I’m definitely glad you didn’t put that on, but that shit ain’t much better.” King responded, still laughing.

  Kareem looked back down on what he had on, and he couldn’t do nothing but bust out laughing himself.

  “Yeah, you right brah, good looking out. I definitely need the wardrobe update, but I’m going to pass on the strippers. I promised myself and Tiana that I was going to try to do better, and the least I can do is not fuck up on some busted ass strippers. If I’m going to do something, it’s got to be with someone worth something.” Kareem spoke in a serious tone.

  “Yo, I respect that, brah, and you know I ain’t trying to take my nigga off his dean. How Pac said it? My nigga hit the pen and now no sinning is the game plan, I ain’t mad at cha.” King stuck out his fist and Kareem pounded him up.

  “Aight enough of that then, let’s go to the mall. But just know I’m going to at least swing by the spot and get my dick sucked afterwards, because them hoe’s already been paid.” King added.

  When King and Kareem pulled up to the mall, the shopping center was packed with people. Sunday was a day that everyone came to North Lake mall to hang out. It was now considered the black mall since the city had shutdown Eastland Mall, which was where all the black people used to shop and hang out.

  King and Kareem could barely make it to the stores without being stopped by someone who knew either one or both of them. Charlotte was indeed his city, and King made sure to stop and show love to all, as if he was some politician running for city council. King understood how important it was to have the everyday common folks, as well as the street hustlers on his team. He could never know when he would need either or both. Many of the old Charlotte hustlers had beat cases, simply because the jury had one or two blacks on it who respected the hustlers that had shown love to them and their communities. King’s father had made sure he understood that.

  When they finally made it to DTLR, King pulled the chocolate store clerk with the million-dollar smile to the side. “Look, I need you to hook my dude up with all the latest shit. Now I know him, he ain’t going to want to spend no money, because he cheap, even with my bread. So don’t say nothing about the price, just put him a fly wardrobe together and I’ll take care of it.”

  King passed the lovely young lady three brand new one hundred dollar bills. “Now this is just for you, so hook my boy up right and I’ll be back.”

  King told Kareem he was going to run down to Footlocker and see if one of his old flames still worked there. He hadn’t seen Tiffany in a while, but he was in the mood for some of that masterful head game she possessed. If he played his cards right, he might convince her to take a quick lunch break go to the parking lot with him and remind him of her talents in his SUV. That way, he wouldn’t have to worry about the strippers that were sitting and waiting on the other side of town.

  King’s face lit up when he entered the store and saw Tiffany helping a group of young cats pick out some shoes. She was still looking good, and his dick was getting hard just thinking about her juicy lips and warm mouth around his pole. Their eyes met, and from Tiffany’s smile, he could tell she was just as happy to see him. She grabbed one of the other sales associates and asked her to take over for her, and she made her way over to King, who was acting like he was so interested in the display wall.

  “Hey stranger, long time no hear from,” Tiffany said, seemly interrupting King from his eye shopping.

  King turned to her smiled, and then looked back at the display like he was really trying to buy something. “Yeah, it has been a minute. I swung by here a couple of times, but you wasn’t working. I wanted to give you my new number.

  “King, stop lying. I’m a manager, so I work nearly every day, and why wouldn’t you just text it to me?” Tiffany asked with a curious smile.

  “Well, my phone was stolen and I hadn’t backed up the info. I’m telling you, I came by and I even asked homeboy where you was at.” King pointed at a male associate who walked out of the stockroom. King signaled for the young guy, hoping that he understood man code.

  “Hey brah, didn’t I come by last week looking for her?”

  The guy looked like a deer caught in headlights for a moment, but then his testosterone must have kicked in, because he smiled and shook his head yes. “Yeah, I thought I told you someone came by looking for you, Tiff.” The young salesmen added, helping King’s story out.

  “You see that Tiffany? Now I’m hurt that you didn’t believe me. Come on, where is my apology?” King asked as if he was in the right the whole time.

  “Whatever, King, and whatever to you too, Tony.” Tiffany responded.

  King sat there for another twenty minutes talking and trying to convince Tiffany to yield to his plan. It took her a while, but she finally broke down and gave into King’s pleas. Deep down inside, even though see knew King was somewhat playing her, she also knew that having someone like him on her side would pay off, if and when she ran into financial trouble. Also, she did like the bragging rights that came along with telling her girls she was fucking with King.

  King hit the unlock button twice on his key chain, opening all the doors on the vehicle. He and Tiffany climbed into the back. King wanted to have enough space to stretch out, and he also wanted Tiffany to have enough room to do her thing. He was about to ask her if she wanted the radio on, but decided against it, remembering that sexy noise she made while sucking him off.

  Tiffany wasted no time. She was unbuttoning King’s pants and pulling them down in one motion. He assisted her by pulling his boxers to the floor as well. Tiffany looked up at him as she placed his half-hard pole into her mouth. She pulled and tugged on it with her lips, making a suction noise as King got harder and harder. Tiffany ran her tongue first down the left side then back up and down the right. When she got back up to the tip, she let out a drop of saliva and repeated the motion.

  King just sat back and watched her work his dick. He couldn’t remember what had been keeping him from coming and getting this weekly. He reached his hands down, grabbed one of her breasts and began rubbing her hard long nipples. This must have excited Tiffany, because she began to intensify her assault, moving from his dick to his balls and back up. She was now moaning with every suck and slurp. The mixture of the sight, sound and the feeling of her soft breast and hard nipple had King at his breaking point. He dropped his head back as he released his load inside Tiffany’s waiting mouth. She kept going, making sure she didn’t miss a drop.

  King had to stop her, before his shit got back hard. He knew if that happened, he would need more than just head, and he didn’t want to take it there with Tiffany. He had always felt that if real sex wasn’t involved, he didn’t have to worry about the female getting her feelings caught up. To him, it was no way that could happen from just oral sex.

  Trying not to make Tiffany feel like he had just played her, he sat and talked to her for about ten more minutes, until he reminded her that she needed to get back to work and he needed to find Kareem. King made sure he gave Tiffany his new num
ber, and he pretended to put hers back into the phone, knowing that he had it already anyway. He walked back into DTLR, and the chocolate bunny was standing at the counter. He walked up to her and asked where Kareem was.

  “He’s in the dressing room putting on one of his new outfits. I told him he needed to throw this away,” she said, holding up the all gray cotton sweat suit.

  “Shit, I agree. Get rid of that and ring everything else up.” King responded.

  “I already did, got it bagged and waiting.” the young girl said with a smile, knowing her commission was going to be great.

  “What’s my damage, cutie?”

  “$6759.19.” she answered.

  King reached into his pocket and counted out Seventy one hundred dollar bills. “Here’s 7K. The extra is thanks for all your help.”

  Chapter 4

  “Can I get a bottle of Ciroc? Damn, come on, Giant. What is taking so long?” Trixie yelled as she slammed her tray against the bar. Her feet were killing her, and the pleather bustier was beginning to stick to her nipples. Tonight was a fucking nightmare, and she was so sick of working at Nikki’s. As much as these fools pinched, poked and pulled on her ass, she may as well be on the fucking pole.

  “Calm down, love, I got you,” Giant said, smiling at her. Giant was 6’6” with blonde hair and hazel eyes. He was from Scotland or somewhere like that, Trixie wasn’t sure. She just knew he was a big white boy, working in a black strip club. He winked as he placed the glasses and the bottle of Ciroc on the tray.

  “I mean, thank you, finally.” Trixie said and walked back to the VIP area. She hated that she didn’t put the damn insoles into the damn stilettos. She had left them right in her purse and forgot to place them in, and now her feet felt like they were about to explode.

  “Shit, we thought we were going to have to send out for your ass. Damn!” Tony said as Trixie placed the tray down.

  “It’s busy here tonight, sorry about the wait.” She forced a fake smile.